We are looking for volunteer catering assistants for our social enterprise/work training cafe at the Letchworth Arts Centre.

The café is open from 10 to 3 Monday to Saturday

Different areas that volunteers could be involved with are:

General Cafe Work

• Serving customers, operating the till, displaying items, stock control, cash handling, customer service, and sales.

Working with people with learning difficulties

• General support and guidance for students who are studying for their NVQ in food and drink service.

Training

• Training in food hygiene and health & safety for catering will be provided.

About us

The Cafe is operated by registered charity Guideposts Trust (No 272619) and provides work training in hospitality, and in food and drink service for adults with learning disabilities.  The cafe is run along the same lines as a commercial business; the objective is quality – in fine food, good service, real training and meaningful work experience.  Funds generated are ploughed back into the project.

How to Apply 

If you are able to help us as a volunteer, or would like to know more about us, please call by: Letchworth Arts Centre 2 The Arcade Letchworth SG6 3EW  or contact our Regional Office 01920 484946 Email: guideposts.ware@guidepoststrust.org.uk.

Thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery Fund we can expand our existing Friendship Scheme.

With the appointment of a new Friendship Scheme Co-ordinator we have exciting plans to expand this project into Hertsmere, as well as offer more group activities such as informal training, workshops on topics such as health, emotions & relationships.

Sarah Betsworth, Big Lottery Fund’s Head of the East of England Region said: “Friendships are one of the most important relationships in life and Guideposts Trust is doing vital work in helping individuals who are lonely or isolated to connect with others. 

“We are so pleased that many more people who are cut off from social contact will be able to benefit from this service thanks to this grant.”

For further news please contact Emma Metcalfe on 01920 484946

Margaret – a volunteer at Guideposts Shop

“I became interested in volunteering when I heard Guideposts Shop is a training project for adults with learning difficulties.  We work alongside the students helping them with their course work and retail training. This could be supporting them with the till and credit card machine skills, pricing items, restocking and meeting the customers.

It’s very rewarding helping students learn new work and life skills and watching some of them move on to new careers and opportunities.  I’ve built up many friendships and our ex-students are always popping in for a chat and catch up on all their news.

I really enjoy the days I volunteer at the shop.  We’re busy from the moment we open the doors and no two days are the same.”

If your interested in becoming a volunteer like Margaret, click here to download a Volunteer Application form or if you would like to know more about our shop then please contact the Shop Manager, Jo Radcliffe or simply pop in:

Guideposts Shop
18a High Street
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 9BX
T: 01920 467111

or contact us at:

Guideposts Trust
Learning Disability Services
82a High Street
Ware
Hertfordshire
SG12 7AH
Tel 01920 484946
Fax 01920 469618
E-mail: guideposts.ware@guidepoststrust.org.uk

Statement of Purpose

Aims:

The purpose of the scheme is to provide an alternative to residential care for people with learning disabilities.  The service provides long term placements and short breaks, giving support within a family-based setting, for as long as required.

The objectives are to:

Provide a safe and comfortable environment
To take an interest in and offer support and care to the person, while respecting his/her independence
To ensure that the person is free from any form of abuse, neglect or exploitation
To work as part of a team, with family, friends and professionals to promote his/her independence and quality of life

The scheme is run by Guideposts Trust, in partnership with Essex County Council.

Equal Opportunites Statement

Guideposts Trust is committed to the promotion of equality of opportunity in all fields of its activity.  This policy refers to equality of opportunity in the care we provide.
Guideposts Trust aims to ensure that no applicant for care or beneficiary of our work receives less favourable consideration or is discriminated against on the basis of grounds of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, or on the basis of sex, marital status, sexual orientation, age, family situation, religious belief or disability, which are not specifically defined within the Operational Policy for the project.
Shared Lives Carers and all staff employed by Guideposts Trust are expected to accept these principles of non-discrimination as a condition of employment.